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Dead Tropics
IN THE MIDST OF A CATASTROPHE LIKE THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN, ONE WOMAN WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO PROTECT HER FAMILY.Lori Nelson has always seen herself as an ordinary woman, doing the best she can to juggle family and her work as a nurse. But the most dangerous creature in nature is the mother whose offspring is threatened…When miners release an ancient virus Lori is at ground zero of the deadly battle for survival. With the help of a laconic ex-soldier, can Lori find the strength to fight the spreading threat and save her family?"Surprisingly good."--BuyZombie.com"Fast paced and charged with adrenaline. I was impressed."--Peace, Love & Reviews"This one puts its foot on the gas pedal and never takes it off. It's excellent. Pick it up."--Kevin J. Burke, author of THE LAST MAILMAN
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2010
6 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 3, 2011
I believe I've said this a thousand times, zombie novel... not a fan. We'll that's because what I was exposed to was the Zombie types that were integrated in the fictional society as domesticated, harmless, like Fido. I admit I've read probably two YA novels that were not that bad (story wise) but a rotting body will never be appealing, for me. I like them flesh eating and terribly lifeless the conventional depiction of the walking dead. I am a huge fan of the zombie movies, I probably saw most of what was released in theaters and the ones that went straight to DVD. The ones that got infected with mutated rabies virus (from a rat), ebola, cancer treatment serum, or some type of bio-chemical weapon. But whatever the cause, they all end up into flesh eating creatures that will devour your flesh and turn you into one of them. So when I read the back cover of Dead tropics, I knew that this is one of those zombie novel that I'd highly appreciate. As soon as I got it in the mail, I started reading it.
I will say it again, it is true when they say do not judge the book by its cover. I am not a fan of the cover but the story it provided greatly covers that flaw. Like any other zombie related event, the book starts with a normal day that turned into an end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it kind of deal. They believe the cause of the outbreak was from encephalitis. Small town Cairns, Australia is where it was set. One thing a movie that does not really provide in great details, is how the characters feel, how they formulate their plans and what's going on inside their head. The main character, Lori is everybody's heroine, a strong character from beginning till end. The drive to save her family and the strength to survive will make every reader root for her. It was fast paced and charged with adrenaline. Where to run, where to hide, how to both and live... I appreciate the graphic details (an essential for any zombie novel). I believe this is also the first time I've read a zombie apocalypse from a female perspective. I was impressed.
I will say it again, it is true when they say do not judge the book by its cover. I am not a fan of the cover but the story it provided greatly covers that flaw. Like any other zombie related event, the book starts with a normal day that turned into an end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it kind of deal. They believe the cause of the outbreak was from encephalitis. Small town Cairns, Australia is where it was set. One thing a movie that does not really provide in great details, is how the characters feel, how they formulate their plans and what's going on inside their head. The main character, Lori is everybody's heroine, a strong character from beginning till end. The drive to save her family and the strength to survive will make every reader root for her. It was fast paced and charged with adrenaline. Where to run, where to hide, how to both and live... I appreciate the graphic details (an essential for any zombie novel). I believe this is also the first time I've read a zombie apocalypse from a female perspective. I was impressed.
July 16, 2012
BEST ZOMBIE BOOK that I have read so far. It is fantastic and it kept me intrigued the entire length of the novel. In terms of zombie books with a high level of action, it is going to hard for other zombie books to surpass this book.
Lori is a great protagonist. She is fiercely independent and a willing fighter. She takes on the zombies in order to rescue children from the children's ward in the hospital and in order to save her sister's neighbors. Lori is really courageous but Edge allows the readers to know that Lori has a vulnerable side. Lori is afraid of what is going on around her but she has a need to try to help others that tends to over-ride her fear.
One of the great things about this novel is the inclusion of children as survivors. Most books and movies only have adult as survivors. Edge has included about five small children and two teenagers in the book. It shows a different perspective of what a zombie apocalypse would be like if the adults had to worry about their children. It adds to the story because finding and protecting the children are added as obstacles that need to be overcome but also make the adults vulnerable and human. It is the children that bring down Lori's survival character to realistic level. She is mother trying to protect her children and that is why she is willing to fight zombies.
The action is non-stop which might be the best feature of the novel. Lori is swimming with crocodiles to evade the zombies, crawling under cars, running over cars, and stealing cars. It is really exciting to read the action scenes because they have enough to details to create a movie in your head. The supporting cast also have their action scenes. The action never really stops and certain event will surprise the reader. I wasn't expecting the final boat scene but it is one of the best one in the books. It's not due to the action but the suspense surrounding it.
The only negative thing I could say is that I'm not entirely sure how the virus originated. Did the miners released something or did they not? I have to be honest, I really do not care because the book was highly entertaining that it made me forget to question the origin of the virus. In fact, I'm going to let it slide and not deduct a half butterfly (which is what I should do but won't) because Lori's journey is fascinating and heartbreaking at times.
Dead Tropics is a five butterfly. Non-stop action, a compelling heroine and children as survivors make it a fantastic book.
{I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.}
Lori is a great protagonist. She is fiercely independent and a willing fighter. She takes on the zombies in order to rescue children from the children's ward in the hospital and in order to save her sister's neighbors. Lori is really courageous but Edge allows the readers to know that Lori has a vulnerable side. Lori is afraid of what is going on around her but she has a need to try to help others that tends to over-ride her fear.
One of the great things about this novel is the inclusion of children as survivors. Most books and movies only have adult as survivors. Edge has included about five small children and two teenagers in the book. It shows a different perspective of what a zombie apocalypse would be like if the adults had to worry about their children. It adds to the story because finding and protecting the children are added as obstacles that need to be overcome but also make the adults vulnerable and human. It is the children that bring down Lori's survival character to realistic level. She is mother trying to protect her children and that is why she is willing to fight zombies.
The action is non-stop which might be the best feature of the novel. Lori is swimming with crocodiles to evade the zombies, crawling under cars, running over cars, and stealing cars. It is really exciting to read the action scenes because they have enough to details to create a movie in your head. The supporting cast also have their action scenes. The action never really stops and certain event will surprise the reader. I wasn't expecting the final boat scene but it is one of the best one in the books. It's not due to the action but the suspense surrounding it.
The only negative thing I could say is that I'm not entirely sure how the virus originated. Did the miners released something or did they not? I have to be honest, I really do not care because the book was highly entertaining that it made me forget to question the origin of the virus. In fact, I'm going to let it slide and not deduct a half butterfly (which is what I should do but won't) because Lori's journey is fascinating and heartbreaking at times.
Dead Tropics is a five butterfly. Non-stop action, a compelling heroine and children as survivors make it a fantastic book.
{I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.}
September 2, 2012
This is a great book and a really fun read! Sue Edge has written a fast paced, scary story about a regular mom trying to save her kids during a zombie outbreak in Australia. The sheer level of creepiness and dread throughout the novel sometimes had the hair on the back of my neck standing up. There was also a touch of romance in the story line, which I have to admit, got me a little misty eyed toward the end. In the zombie/apocalype genre, this is definitely one of my top 5 picks. I hated for it to end, but am definitely looking forward to the sequel.
July 29, 2012
Dead Tropics starts out on a typical morning in Cairns, Australia, except for the fact that several miners have been reported with cases of encephalitis and are being sent to local hospital. They had been given consent to mine in the area of the Cape Tribulation Rain Forest, to the north of Cairns. Lori Nelson is a nurse and mother of three who has to report to her job at the hospital after dropping her kids off for the day.
We soon discover that whatever infection these miners suffered from is something that has been likely buried in this previously untouched rainforest and it brings the dead back to life. Suddenly the world is turned upside down as Lori must join forces with several other members of the hospital staff to fight their way out of the ever increasing circle of danger and death that engulfs the hospital and the downtown area of the city. Within a few brief hours of infection, the miners have died, risen up, and infected everyone around them. Lori’s small crew race ahead of the growing outbreak and try to safely collect those they can save, including Lori’s kids and her sister’s family as well, with the hopes of escaping the city before it’s too late.
This is a zombie tale that definitely speeds along at a rapid pace. Many undead stories that focus on the outbreak itself try to keep the energy level up throughout the story but tend to slow the tempo down at one point or another. Such is not the case here, where the energy level remains high throughout, with barely any time for the reader to breath. Of course, the somewhat unique angle played here is that Lori is a mother, and a fairly normal one at that. She isn’t a superhero or has any special skills outside of the fact that she is a nurse, which does come in handy when an attempt is made to stop infection from spreading from a bite suffered by a loved one. Other than that, the only thing that Lori seems to possess out of the ordinary is a stubborn determination to protect her family and to be a leader who takes charge of every situation they confront. All in all, she is a realistic character that does her best, failing and succeeding in making good choices along the way, like most of us would do under the same circumstances.
It appears that an editing error pointed out by some other reviewers has been taken care of in this electronic version of the book. The only glitch in the story that I noticed was the death and repeat death of a minor character within a couple of pages fairly early in the story. The character is so minor he doesn’t even have a name, just a designation: B2. Even with this, the writing is crisp and keeps things moving along, with little in the way of editing complaints to nag about.
There is a bit of romance in this story, though it doesn’t necessarily distract from the story as it can in some zompoc tales. Lori’s blossoming relationship with Mike is front and center at a few select points in the story, but it remains subtle and in the background the rest of the time as they race from one danger to the next. The important thing, in my mind, is that it didn’t feel forced or overdone. Instead, it was a done with a deft hand and made sense based on the intensity of the experiences the characters were coping with.
As I always try to do, I point out issues that I have with a story. Overall, Dead Tropics is a solid work with a voice not often heard in zombie fiction: that of a mother protecting her family. I did take issue with the fact that while the spread of the virus from the hospital seems to be a uniform process of it going street by street, and inch by inch, it jumps well past its outer range at one point to create a convenient situation for the main character, forcing her to deal with ‘taking care’ of a couple of infected people she knows and who are very important to another key character. The area where this takes place is otherwise still clear of infection-so much so that the next door neighbors seem oblivious to anything impending doom. It is possible and I’m sure there would be an explanation, but it still seemed like a convenient plot development. Still it, like the dual deaths of the insignificant character I mentioned earlier, are minor things, but worth pointing out.
While Dead Tropics is a fairly traditional zombie tale, with Romero type zombies and plenty of gore, mayhem, and bloody action, what makes it really stand out is its main character. There certainly have been other female leads in this genre, but not many (or any that I can think of at the moment) whose focus was on protecting her young children and doing everything she could to keep them alive. There have been those who have lost their children and those who are not the main focus of the tale, but this story zeroes in on her particular experiences and does a good job with it. The author gives us a strong, appealing character with emotional depth and passion without sacrificing anything that the gore hounds and action fans want, which makes this a fun, solid zombie apocalypse read.
We soon discover that whatever infection these miners suffered from is something that has been likely buried in this previously untouched rainforest and it brings the dead back to life. Suddenly the world is turned upside down as Lori must join forces with several other members of the hospital staff to fight their way out of the ever increasing circle of danger and death that engulfs the hospital and the downtown area of the city. Within a few brief hours of infection, the miners have died, risen up, and infected everyone around them. Lori’s small crew race ahead of the growing outbreak and try to safely collect those they can save, including Lori’s kids and her sister’s family as well, with the hopes of escaping the city before it’s too late.
This is a zombie tale that definitely speeds along at a rapid pace. Many undead stories that focus on the outbreak itself try to keep the energy level up throughout the story but tend to slow the tempo down at one point or another. Such is not the case here, where the energy level remains high throughout, with barely any time for the reader to breath. Of course, the somewhat unique angle played here is that Lori is a mother, and a fairly normal one at that. She isn’t a superhero or has any special skills outside of the fact that she is a nurse, which does come in handy when an attempt is made to stop infection from spreading from a bite suffered by a loved one. Other than that, the only thing that Lori seems to possess out of the ordinary is a stubborn determination to protect her family and to be a leader who takes charge of every situation they confront. All in all, she is a realistic character that does her best, failing and succeeding in making good choices along the way, like most of us would do under the same circumstances.
It appears that an editing error pointed out by some other reviewers has been taken care of in this electronic version of the book. The only glitch in the story that I noticed was the death and repeat death of a minor character within a couple of pages fairly early in the story. The character is so minor he doesn’t even have a name, just a designation: B2. Even with this, the writing is crisp and keeps things moving along, with little in the way of editing complaints to nag about.
There is a bit of romance in this story, though it doesn’t necessarily distract from the story as it can in some zompoc tales. Lori’s blossoming relationship with Mike is front and center at a few select points in the story, but it remains subtle and in the background the rest of the time as they race from one danger to the next. The important thing, in my mind, is that it didn’t feel forced or overdone. Instead, it was a done with a deft hand and made sense based on the intensity of the experiences the characters were coping with.
As I always try to do, I point out issues that I have with a story. Overall, Dead Tropics is a solid work with a voice not often heard in zombie fiction: that of a mother protecting her family. I did take issue with the fact that while the spread of the virus from the hospital seems to be a uniform process of it going street by street, and inch by inch, it jumps well past its outer range at one point to create a convenient situation for the main character, forcing her to deal with ‘taking care’ of a couple of infected people she knows and who are very important to another key character. The area where this takes place is otherwise still clear of infection-so much so that the next door neighbors seem oblivious to anything impending doom. It is possible and I’m sure there would be an explanation, but it still seemed like a convenient plot development. Still it, like the dual deaths of the insignificant character I mentioned earlier, are minor things, but worth pointing out.
While Dead Tropics is a fairly traditional zombie tale, with Romero type zombies and plenty of gore, mayhem, and bloody action, what makes it really stand out is its main character. There certainly have been other female leads in this genre, but not many (or any that I can think of at the moment) whose focus was on protecting her young children and doing everything she could to keep them alive. There have been those who have lost their children and those who are not the main focus of the tale, but this story zeroes in on her particular experiences and does a good job with it. The author gives us a strong, appealing character with emotional depth and passion without sacrificing anything that the gore hounds and action fans want, which makes this a fun, solid zombie apocalypse read.
Read
January 20, 20153.5
In some ways, your standard zombie fare, in others, new and different. Outbreak happens, world turns upside down, and Lori, a mom, has to do what she has to do to rescue her kids. She ends up rescuing others in the process, and has some hard, painful choices to make several times.
Story takes place in Cairns, Australia, on the edge of the rainforest, which is not the norm. Lori has her own sad story, and wouldn't do well with more personal loss. She comes to grips quickly (too quickly!), and it is what enables her to save those she needs to, including herself.
This is a zombie story that does not have a weak, helpless woman at the helm, and Lori is quite capable of taking care of herself when the need arises. Some of the situations she winds up in are a little over the top, and she spends a lot of time away from the "safe house" doing other things, but always gets back home, even when others fall.
You've got your standard zombies, your blood, your gore, your sacrifices....it's all there.
All in all, a good addition to your zombie collection. Could use a good editing pass, but was not horrible given the state of a lot of self-pubbed offerings.
In some ways, your standard zombie fare, in others, new and different. Outbreak happens, world turns upside down, and Lori, a mom, has to do what she has to do to rescue her kids. She ends up rescuing others in the process, and has some hard, painful choices to make several times.
Story takes place in Cairns, Australia, on the edge of the rainforest, which is not the norm. Lori has her own sad story, and wouldn't do well with more personal loss. She comes to grips quickly (too quickly!), and it is what enables her to save those she needs to, including herself.
This is a zombie story that does not have a weak, helpless woman at the helm, and Lori is quite capable of taking care of herself when the need arises. Some of the situations she winds up in are a little over the top, and she spends a lot of time away from the "safe house" doing other things, but always gets back home, even when others fall.
You've got your standard zombies, your blood, your gore, your sacrifices....it's all there.
All in all, a good addition to your zombie collection. Could use a good editing pass, but was not horrible given the state of a lot of self-pubbed offerings.
July 6, 2012
Oh, great book, showing what humans will do to both survive, and protect their children! Loved it!
*Full reveiw from Words I Write Crazy on 5/7*
Dead Tropics is an excellent book, it's got zombies, touching scenes, threat of death, and survival, Dead Tropics encases a great storyline, and characters! Lori's had a lot of tough times, but she's a strong leader, and if this was YA, I'd say that she was the opposite of a TSTL, because she takes charge, and she's strong. Really loved that!
1 thing that was hard to understand at first, was the setting, because I had no idea where Cairns was, I though it might be in South America, because there were tropics, and beaches very close together, but Cairns is in Australia, so nice setting, though knowing where in the world would've been nicer.
And the zombies! Quite great, and destructive, just like the movies, where they're actually bad, and I liked that it was caused by a virus released because of man's need to keep taking and building, and infringing on nature, it adds a "tale of warning" to the story that coupled with a mother trying to keep her kids alive, an excellent story!
*Full reveiw from Words I Write Crazy on 5/7*
Dead Tropics is an excellent book, it's got zombies, touching scenes, threat of death, and survival, Dead Tropics encases a great storyline, and characters! Lori's had a lot of tough times, but she's a strong leader, and if this was YA, I'd say that she was the opposite of a TSTL, because she takes charge, and she's strong. Really loved that!
1 thing that was hard to understand at first, was the setting, because I had no idea where Cairns was, I though it might be in South America, because there were tropics, and beaches very close together, but Cairns is in Australia, so nice setting, though knowing where in the world would've been nicer.
And the zombies! Quite great, and destructive, just like the movies, where they're actually bad, and I liked that it was caused by a virus released because of man's need to keep taking and building, and infringing on nature, it adds a "tale of warning" to the story that coupled with a mother trying to keep her kids alive, an excellent story!
December 9, 2012
I really don't know how I feel about this book. It got me from the start and is full of action, but I'm grieving.... (In complete denial and hoping for a miracle, if there's a second book)!
March 4, 2017
This book captivated me from the very first paragraph and took me away to a place far away as I was drawn into the characters' lives and every emotion that they felt. I was honestly shocked that I was so drawn into it that I felt as though I was watching a movie in my head. It was very well-written and so suspenseful with the right mix of everything from romance, killer suspense, tear-jerking experiences, and so much more. The author did not follow the predicted pattern of security that everything would be ok always because how could "x" happen to "this character"? There were shocking moments and heartfelt moments. I find that so often authors write as though to avoid any negative feelings from the reader, and Sue did not do this. She sacrificed (and did so very well) the readers' security for certain characters for the overall integrity of a book, which I felt was not only necessary but placed the book at a much higher level of excellence than most any other book I've ever read. I hear she is working on book 2, and I am so excited!!! Even if you don't like zombie books, I promise, you will be drawn into this one. I very HIGHLY recommend to anyone!
July 28, 2015
Originally posted on www.bookchickcity.com
Dead Tropics was a really good zombie horror, and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. It’s the typical survival plot of a group of people helping each other to survive with one leader.
Lori Nelson is an unapologetic heroine, killing zombies from the get go without hesitation, whether adult, child or baby. Going from an ordinary woman, performing the normal day to day routines, to an extraordinary woman, wielding a parang. The transition from one to the other is quick, but so is the action. It moves fast and furious, without letting up, which to be honest is how it would be if the zombie apocalypse actually happened. You either step up or become one of the walking dead.
It’s an incredibly easy read too and the writing flows really well. Although there’s not a lot of depth or world building I still connected with the characters.
Some of Lori’s decisions are slightly stupid though, like the futile attempt at trying to save a street full of people from a large zombie horde, which could have potentially led the zombies back to her family. Other decisions are more calculated and selfish, but ultimately life-saving for herself, her friends and her family; such as leaving abandoned children to die at the hand of the walking dead. I’m not sure I would have made the same decisions, I’m not sure I could watch children die, even if I didn’t know them. They had nobody to save them as their parents were already dead. But although Lori’s decisions were out of sync with mine, she is admirable in certain situations. And with a large gaggle of zombies descending upon me, I’m sure it would be difficult to make instant decisions under such panic and duress.
At times it seemed that all the adults wanted to have a go at being the hero, and on occasion all together. This is one of those stupid decisions, being as they had numerous children to care for. My eyes rolled to the heavens. Really? Leave all those children unprotected with just one adult, Emma, who really wasn’t much use, as past history showed.
However, for the most part, Dead Tropics is a really fun, action-packed read. It was non-stop, but in a good way. Edge kept the tension and suspense wracked up high for most of the novel. Sometimes I wished it would slow down so I could catch my breath, but I loved how the action drove the novel forward.
Although the title suggests it is based in a tropical rainforest, it is actually set in urban areas for about 75% of the story. When it does move into the rainforest, it’s a nice change of scenery as it’s a fresh and original setting. I wish more of the book took place in the rainforest rather than the town and roads, as this has been done to death.
VERDICT
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Tropics. It’s a fun, adrenaline-fuelled ride with lots of zombies. I can’t wait for book two, which I’ve been told by Permuted Press, is set for release sometime in 2014.
Dead Tropics was a really good zombie horror, and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. It’s the typical survival plot of a group of people helping each other to survive with one leader.
Lori Nelson is an unapologetic heroine, killing zombies from the get go without hesitation, whether adult, child or baby. Going from an ordinary woman, performing the normal day to day routines, to an extraordinary woman, wielding a parang. The transition from one to the other is quick, but so is the action. It moves fast and furious, without letting up, which to be honest is how it would be if the zombie apocalypse actually happened. You either step up or become one of the walking dead.
It’s an incredibly easy read too and the writing flows really well. Although there’s not a lot of depth or world building I still connected with the characters.
Some of Lori’s decisions are slightly stupid though, like the futile attempt at trying to save a street full of people from a large zombie horde, which could have potentially led the zombies back to her family. Other decisions are more calculated and selfish, but ultimately life-saving for herself, her friends and her family; such as leaving abandoned children to die at the hand of the walking dead. I’m not sure I would have made the same decisions, I’m not sure I could watch children die, even if I didn’t know them. They had nobody to save them as their parents were already dead. But although Lori’s decisions were out of sync with mine, she is admirable in certain situations. And with a large gaggle of zombies descending upon me, I’m sure it would be difficult to make instant decisions under such panic and duress.
At times it seemed that all the adults wanted to have a go at being the hero, and on occasion all together. This is one of those stupid decisions, being as they had numerous children to care for. My eyes rolled to the heavens. Really? Leave all those children unprotected with just one adult, Emma, who really wasn’t much use, as past history showed.
However, for the most part, Dead Tropics is a really fun, action-packed read. It was non-stop, but in a good way. Edge kept the tension and suspense wracked up high for most of the novel. Sometimes I wished it would slow down so I could catch my breath, but I loved how the action drove the novel forward.
Although the title suggests it is based in a tropical rainforest, it is actually set in urban areas for about 75% of the story. When it does move into the rainforest, it’s a nice change of scenery as it’s a fresh and original setting. I wish more of the book took place in the rainforest rather than the town and roads, as this has been done to death.
VERDICT
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Tropics. It’s a fun, adrenaline-fuelled ride with lots of zombies. I can’t wait for book two, which I’ve been told by Permuted Press, is set for release sometime in 2014.
December 30, 2011
Great book. Nothing new in the zombie genre but nothing done bad either. Very exciting. Extremely fast paced and relentless action. Look forward to more from the author.
I have read quite a few zombie books and plan on reading quite a few more. This is one of my favorites. I really liked the tone of her book. She does a really good job of bringing you into the world without having to use a lot of time describing it. The plot is very standard for a zombie novel. For example, Lori, the main character is a nurse working in a hospital when an unknown virus shows up. I think that is part of the reason I enjoyed Sue's writing so much. At the beginning, I thought here we go again but then by about 5% through I realized it could be one of the best zombie books I ever read.
The story has heart. It is a tale of a mother having to protect her family from the zombie apocalypse (very simplified summary on my part). She has friends family and co-workers that she has to ensure the safety of. And as cliched as it sounds, she learns a lot about the person she was before the virus. One small touch that I really liked was the faith of the lead character. It seemed that the two or three times she secretly prayed for something, it worked out for her (no spoiler, nothing to do with the ending or plot). I've read plenty of books where the character usually either scoffs at or "evolves" past their faith and intentionally or not, this was far from the case in this book.
The action is the best part of the book. Sue has a great way of writing both the action scenes and the few and far between quite touching moments. This book is deeply engrossing and entertaining. Great read, highly recommend! If you are a zombie fan like I am and haven't read this one you are missing one of the best.
I have read quite a few zombie books and plan on reading quite a few more. This is one of my favorites. I really liked the tone of her book. She does a really good job of bringing you into the world without having to use a lot of time describing it. The plot is very standard for a zombie novel. For example, Lori, the main character is a nurse working in a hospital when an unknown virus shows up. I think that is part of the reason I enjoyed Sue's writing so much. At the beginning, I thought here we go again but then by about 5% through I realized it could be one of the best zombie books I ever read.
The story has heart. It is a tale of a mother having to protect her family from the zombie apocalypse (very simplified summary on my part). She has friends family and co-workers that she has to ensure the safety of. And as cliched as it sounds, she learns a lot about the person she was before the virus. One small touch that I really liked was the faith of the lead character. It seemed that the two or three times she secretly prayed for something, it worked out for her (no spoiler, nothing to do with the ending or plot). I've read plenty of books where the character usually either scoffs at or "evolves" past their faith and intentionally or not, this was far from the case in this book.
The action is the best part of the book. Sue has a great way of writing both the action scenes and the few and far between quite touching moments. This book is deeply engrossing and entertaining. Great read, highly recommend! If you are a zombie fan like I am and haven't read this one you are missing one of the best.
August 1, 2012
At the end of the book the authors asks that the readers pass on the infection, which I gladly do now. Generally I find zombie books fall into the “B movie” category of books, however every once in a while you find a book like “Dead Tropics” that elevates the genre to a new level. While this is a “zombie” outbreak book, the main point of the story is family and how that definition changes or strengthens with adversity.
Lori, the main character, is a typical suburban mom with a teen and toddler twins. She recently lost her husband to cancer and is struggling to just stay afloat. She is mild mannered, soft spoken and kind…initially. Eventually she exhibits strength of character that others have always seen, but she didn’t really know she had
This book is well written and convincingly shows how a mother is willing to do anything to protect her children, even things she would never have thought she would. My husband and I have joked about this type of thing before: I always say I would jump in front of a car for him, but I would probably hesitate and think a moment first; but I wouldn’t have to think at all if it was one of my kids.
I was impressed with the author’s ability to put a compassionate and humane face on the stark tragedy while still maintaining the fantasy vibe of the story. It was funny, passionate, romantic, sad, and life affirming. I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Lori, the main character, is a typical suburban mom with a teen and toddler twins. She recently lost her husband to cancer and is struggling to just stay afloat. She is mild mannered, soft spoken and kind…initially. Eventually she exhibits strength of character that others have always seen, but she didn’t really know she had
This book is well written and convincingly shows how a mother is willing to do anything to protect her children, even things she would never have thought she would. My husband and I have joked about this type of thing before: I always say I would jump in front of a car for him, but I would probably hesitate and think a moment first; but I wouldn’t have to think at all if it was one of my kids.
I was impressed with the author’s ability to put a compassionate and humane face on the stark tragedy while still maintaining the fantasy vibe of the story. It was funny, passionate, romantic, sad, and life affirming. I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
October 4, 2011
Does anything get better than a mother trying to save her children from killer zombies in a tropical rainforest? I mean, it's like the perfect equation for gore and suspense!
Dead Tropics actually surprised me with how fast the story jumped into the action. But even though it moved quickly, I still had enough time to actually care about all of the characters - which is pretty rare.
I don't want to say too much about the book, because I'm afraid of I'd give it all away. But basically, I can say that you will probably never read a zombie novel quite like this one!
The way the zombies eat the humans was both gory and disgusting - exactly as it should be, lol. The suspense of our main character, Lori, having to constantly outrun the zombies had me as out of breath as she was! And the way she would do anything to save her children - and I mean anything (*hint hint) is powerful and inspiring.
The only complaint I do have about this story is that Lori was sometimes too composed for the situation. If there's a moment when a character has to kill her friend or a lover, I would like them to be really distraught about it - and sometimes Lori just seemed to carefree about the whole ordeal. I would just like to have seen her wince a little bit more.
All in all - entertaining, fun, quick-read. I'd recommend it :)
Maria @ GoodChoiceReading.com
Dead Tropics actually surprised me with how fast the story jumped into the action. But even though it moved quickly, I still had enough time to actually care about all of the characters - which is pretty rare.
I don't want to say too much about the book, because I'm afraid of I'd give it all away. But basically, I can say that you will probably never read a zombie novel quite like this one!
The way the zombies eat the humans was both gory and disgusting - exactly as it should be, lol. The suspense of our main character, Lori, having to constantly outrun the zombies had me as out of breath as she was! And the way she would do anything to save her children - and I mean anything (*hint hint) is powerful and inspiring.
The only complaint I do have about this story is that Lori was sometimes too composed for the situation. If there's a moment when a character has to kill her friend or a lover, I would like them to be really distraught about it - and sometimes Lori just seemed to carefree about the whole ordeal. I would just like to have seen her wince a little bit more.
All in all - entertaining, fun, quick-read. I'd recommend it :)
Maria @ GoodChoiceReading.com
February 10, 2016
What a great zombie book!!The entire book is suspenseful, I could defiantly see this as a great movie! The characters are in depth, so you really care for them, feel fear with them, and are sad when they die. The story line was very believable. It starts on the day of the outbreak, and continues through days of zombie terror. We don't know if the situation is over at the end of the book, but are relieved that the remaining characters are safe for now. There are all types of characters including children in this book, some that are zombies, some that turn into zombies, and some just trying to survive. I could completely believe that people would act like this if the situation was real life. There were heroes, but not the crazy type of heroes that win no matter what, like I said it was very believable. One part almost made me cry, I won't tell you about it, but it was super sad in a couple parts. I love zombie books, but a lot of them aren't well-written, or easy to read. This book was one I could not put down! Recommend to any zombie love! A must-read!
September 26, 2012
One of my all time favorite Z books! Its a rip roaring good story that starts out with a bang and doesn't slow down. Love, love, love the main character, a woman who's an ER Nurse and most importantly a Mom who is trying to save her kids. She's a character that is very easy for readers to relate to as she has to learn survivial skills as she goes...and most of it at a run. There were parts that gave me chills and even made me cry...in a zombie novel!!! I seriously cannot wait for the sequel to be released to pick up the story and see where it leads me with the characters that have become like friends.
February 20, 2013
I really liked this book and can't wait for the next one. There were some things that were annoying to me like the repetition of some things. There were quite a few zombies that lost either their legs or lower halves and were crawling at them. Another thing is the Mike situation. I really did not want anything bad to happen to him. But oh well its done lol. I just cannot wait to devour the next one!
October 18, 2012
I was surprised by how great this book is. I've read a lot of zombie stories and have to say that this one is by far my favorite. I gave up so much sleep because I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next one. This book could easily be a movie, a great movie at that! PS Sue Edge, you broke my heart toward the end..I won't spoil it but you know what you did!
October 20, 2012
More so 3.5 wasn't a bad book and the story was solid enough to make me want to read the sequel when it comes out. The only negative I found was a couple minor proof reading misses and the feeling that just when the author ramps up the story she went all in a kinda teenie bopper horror way. The Babies....
May 18, 2021
Absolutely fabulous.
Edit: I'm re-reading this one almost decade after it's first release. I had to buy the updated version because I somehow lost the original. Anyhoo...Am I on crack or wasn't Joe her husband in the original version. In the update, it looks like Joe is her brother.
Edit: I'm re-reading this one almost decade after it's first release. I had to buy the updated version because I somehow lost the original. Anyhoo...Am I on crack or wasn't Joe her husband in the original version. In the update, it looks like Joe is her brother.
June 16, 2014
Exciting! Thrilling! Page Turner!
A woman, sister, widow, mother of three and a nurse, Lori Nelson started her day like normal. Feeding her kids, dropping them off at various locations, just trying to get to work. She had no idea that today would be different when she got into work.
Meanwhile, a deadly virus is unleashed by miners at The Cape Tribulation rainforest who are being taken to the Cairns Base Hospital. It is believed that they have encephalitis but they soon find out is much more. The miners are brought back from the dead and are attacking doctors, nurses and patients. Not just attacking them but tearing into them, biting them, eating them and infecting them.
Lori, an ER nurse at the hospital, teams up with her friend and fellow nurse Emma as well as other hospital staff including an ex-soldier, Mike, to fight off these creatures and flee the city. She is a mom on a mission. She needs to get to her family. They need to find somewhere safe. Will she have the strength and courage to do what she needs to do to reach and protect her loved ones? Is there somewhere safe?
Grab a copy of Dead Tropics to find out. An action packed exciting story the whole way through.
A woman, sister, widow, mother of three and a nurse, Lori Nelson started her day like normal. Feeding her kids, dropping them off at various locations, just trying to get to work. She had no idea that today would be different when she got into work.
Meanwhile, a deadly virus is unleashed by miners at The Cape Tribulation rainforest who are being taken to the Cairns Base Hospital. It is believed that they have encephalitis but they soon find out is much more. The miners are brought back from the dead and are attacking doctors, nurses and patients. Not just attacking them but tearing into them, biting them, eating them and infecting them.
Lori, an ER nurse at the hospital, teams up with her friend and fellow nurse Emma as well as other hospital staff including an ex-soldier, Mike, to fight off these creatures and flee the city. She is a mom on a mission. She needs to get to her family. They need to find somewhere safe. Will she have the strength and courage to do what she needs to do to reach and protect her loved ones? Is there somewhere safe?
Grab a copy of Dead Tropics to find out. An action packed exciting story the whole way through.
September 4, 2011
This is one of those novels where you wish you could give half stars, however, instead of rounding down I rounded up.
While this is a very basic zombie apocalypse tale, the characters are very sympathetic and engaging. I found I had a hard time putting this down once I picked it up. There are some unique elements to this story that you don't often see in the usual zombie story.
For one, you see the hospital being overrun from the point of view of the staff instead of the point of view of a patient or someone coming to get help from the ER. There are also several instances of the heroes making the harder, smarter decisions when it comes to rescues, using the terrain to their advantage, and a surprising ending that was actually could be seen as happy from the right perspective.
Lovely story. I hope we see more from Ms. Edgerley.
While this is a very basic zombie apocalypse tale, the characters are very sympathetic and engaging. I found I had a hard time putting this down once I picked it up. There are some unique elements to this story that you don't often see in the usual zombie story.
For one, you see the hospital being overrun from the point of view of the staff instead of the point of view of a patient or someone coming to get help from the ER. There are also several instances of the heroes making the harder, smarter decisions when it comes to rescues, using the terrain to their advantage, and a surprising ending that was actually could be seen as happy from the right perspective.
Lovely story. I hope we see more from Ms. Edgerley.
February 19, 2013
DEAD TROPICS was a pretty standard zombie novel for the most part. There was nothing new in this story opposed to many other zombie stories, but it was pretty well written and entertained well enough. It's definitely one of the better zombie stories I have read as of late and had some really good characters (tho some of them didn't make it in the end).
Overall a great story, most zombie fans should find a good time in reading DEAD TROPICS. I'll have to look into reading the sequel when it comes out later this year (at least it's supposed to come out this year according to the little mention at the end of this book).
Overall a great story, most zombie fans should find a good time in reading DEAD TROPICS. I'll have to look into reading the sequel when it comes out later this year (at least it's supposed to come out this year according to the little mention at the end of this book).
March 12, 2013
First, I wish the author would take a tape measure and go outside and play with it for a while until she gets a better handle on distances. At first I thought she meant 300 feet and not 30 feet, but it didn't take long to realize the author's sense of distance was a tad skewed. But that aside, for a zombie tale it was very emotional. The character development was excellent. I actually enjoyed the overall story and the writing style. I cracked up near the end when little Sarah first raised her hands to be picked up and then later clapped with glee at the sight of her mother. Not bad for a one-armed child.
July 3, 2018
It is books like this that make me really happy to own a Kindle.
The writing is excellent, the story exciting, and the characters believable. There is some romance, but it is reasoned and makes sense in the story.
What I loved:
- the author describes things in heart-rending detail
- the characters reminded me of real people
- there were none of the military villains or rape gangs that are so common in zombie novels
- cannot beat the price
What I didn't love:
- I would have preferred a longer story... perhaps a follow-up?
The writing is excellent, the story exciting, and the characters believable. There is some romance, but it is reasoned and makes sense in the story.
What I loved:
- the author describes things in heart-rending detail
- the characters reminded me of real people
- there were none of the military villains or rape gangs that are so common in zombie novels
- cannot beat the price
What I didn't love:
- I would have preferred a longer story... perhaps a follow-up?
September 4, 2013
I have really been expanding my reading horizon and adding Dead Tropics as a intro to the Zombie genre made me realize you still have a story - your in-depth characters, drama and action galore and a need to know what happens next!
Thanks, Dee Streiner, for warning me about Zombie content (no child and favorite character is safe)! I really did enjoy the book and pretty much read it straight through...
Thanks, Dee Streiner, for warning me about Zombie content (no child and favorite character is safe)! I really did enjoy the book and pretty much read it straight through...
December 24, 2012
It started well. Island is overrun by zombie plague. Family has the good fortune to live in a house on stilts opening to the dense jungle giving it superior protection. But it devolves into a trite love story and overly predictable ending that can be seen from a mile away. Also, I get really irritated when people in books or movies do dumb things. There is somewhat of a plethora of that happening in this book. So, beach read only in my opinion.
September 10, 2013
There are zombie books and there are zombie books.
A few are great, a majority are good, and a fair few are total crap.
Zombies are the new sparkly vampires, and have been since BEFORE sparkly vampires.
Dead Tropics is a fun read, with great pacing and realistic characters.
It fits into category one. It's great!
Geoff Brown
President, AHWA
A few are great, a majority are good, and a fair few are total crap.
Zombies are the new sparkly vampires, and have been since BEFORE sparkly vampires.
Dead Tropics is a fun read, with great pacing and realistic characters.
It fits into category one. It's great!
Geoff Brown
President, AHWA
May 12, 2012
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another editing project is now a published book! Check out the newly released Permuted Press edition of Sue Edge's Dead Tropics. Zombies? In the jungle? Why yes, thank you very much!
October 16, 2012
This book quickly became one of my top favorite zombie apocalypse books for me.
It stayed true to form with the classic 'zombie infection' details and had a likable heroine, and the easily lovable, yet damned hero.
I will anxiously look forward to the release of book two next year.
It stayed true to form with the classic 'zombie infection' details and had a likable heroine, and the easily lovable, yet damned hero.
I will anxiously look forward to the release of book two next year.
May 7, 2013
The first person POV gives an immediacy to the writing, and is actually well done, unlike many first person stories I've read. And I like the different setting. The end is a bit formulaic, but overall, a good read.
I received this as an Advance Copy via Goodreads.
I received this as an Advance Copy via Goodreads.
January 9, 2015
I thought it was very well written and didn't lack in action. Definitely worth the read and I can't wait for part 2 to come out in 2013!!
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